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Next week one lucky Apple fan will download the 25 billionth app from the App Store. Numbers on that scale are usually reserved to GDP figures rather than Angry Birds. With well over half a million apps available it can be hard to filter out the noise and find people building the good stuff. The stuff you wish you had thought of first. Where are the apps that solve problems, disrupt conventions or are just too addicting to put down?

Here are three that have us excited:

Clik

Clik is a dead simple new app that allows you to control Youtube videos on any web enabled screen, from your phone. Why is yet another remote app blog worthy? Let’s take a look.

Clik is painfully simple to understand and magical to use. It just works.

1. Go to clikthis.com on the screen you want to control
2. Scan the code with your phone
3. Boom, you are now in control

And finally someone used a QR code in a way that makes sense.

While fun to show off at parties, the Clik youtube remote is really just a proof on concept for what the developers are touting as a game changing system for controlling nearly any web enabled device from our smartphones. I have to agree. The Clik platform and API (also unveiled this week) will have a dramatic effect on how a new breed of mobile apps interact with the real world.

Imagine a QR code in the loading screen of a video game that instantly turns your phone into a customized, multi touch controller! How about a presentation tool that allows you to take over any screen and stream your slideshow. You get the point.

WallaBee

Remember Gowalla? You know, the check-in app best known for not being Foursquare that was  in December? Now, do you remember the never-quite-sure-of-its-purpose item collection game that was part of earlier Gowalla releases? Ben Dodson does and he thinks he can take it a step further.

Wallabee is an item collection game that uses it’s massive database of location information to “hide” digital items all over the world. These icons can be collected, mixed and traded to your heart desire.

What makes Wallabee something to watch is how openly they are courting other developers with their API. Allowing other teams to build on the Wallabee platform means new game variants, strategies and experiences that not even the original team can foresee. Remember zombie mode in Call of Duty or Gary’s Mod? Exactly.

Wander

Wander has a simple premise: Randomly connect strangers (or “guides”) from all over the world and encourage them to share photos, stories and explore each others cities through the eyes of a local. Think: International Instagram pen-pals!

Wander uses “challenges” to coax newly partnered guides into sharing. Something as simple and overplayed as showing each other what you had for lunch can be truly mind bending when the picture of your turkey sandwich is answered with photos of a traditional Filipino roast pig! The app also has built in translation software which takes the digital cultural immersion to another level.

Wander’s power comes from everything they left out. This simple mechanism for connecting complete strangers gives you a travel buzz infinitely more enjoyable than scrolling through your coworkers vacation photos or following even the best Pinterest travel boards.

The longest lasting and arguably most valuable part of travel is a fresh perspective. A better understanding of how the world works and where exactly you fit in. Wander is a new way to turn  into something that is mutually beneficial, addictive and feels like the future.

(Image Credit)